LGBTQ Awareness Training

As a queer Hmong woman who is a member of multiple marginalized and historically silenced groups, the FAIR Education Act feels like an action long overdue. Growing up, I remember learning only about the contributions of white and presumably heterosexual men. I can recall feeling disconnected and confused. I looked around me and saw a myriad combinations of ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, religions and various other backgrounds in my peers. For that not to be reflected in history lessons baffled me. How is it that only one subset of a single race be the sole contributors to this nation?

October marks National LGBT History month, an opportunity to spend 31 days highlighting the achievements of LGBTQ-identified folks who have brought progress to America. But soon, thanks to state lawmakers, students in California will be able to learn about these contributions all year round.

In 2011, Governor Jim Brown passed the FAIR (Fair, Accurate, Inclusive, Respectful) Education Act to include the accomplishments made by LGBTQ historical figures in social science curriculum at K-12 schools all across California.

Current existing laws require that schools depict a fair representation of Native Americans, African Americans, Mexican Americans, Asian Americans, European Americans, and members of other ethnic and cultural groups in textbooks. Not only will the Fair Education Act require school lessons to be LGBTQ-inclusive, the list will expand to include other marginalized groups, such as persons of disabilities and Pacific Islanders.

The Instructional Quality Committee met on September 28, 2017 to vote on recommended revisions of history textbooks that abide by the FAIR Education Act standards.

On September 28, 2017, the Instructional Quality Commission (IQC) met and approved revisions of history and social science textbooks to include these marginalized communities. Emily Bender, Program Director of Sacramento LGBT Community Center, provided testimonial support at the IQC hearing because she believes that “the struggle for equality that we LGBTQ people have faced over the years helps us better understand our current day issues.” The California Department of Education will vote on accepting the recommended revisions in November 2017.

The law has faced opposition from religious, conservative, and parent groups. Some parents fear it as a tool to teach homosexuality and that children are too young to be discussing sexuality. According to the Protect Kids Foundation, parents feel concerned that by incorporating LGBTQ-affirming studies in school, schools are “impos[ing] their private lifestyles on all school children…” and that “It reduces the teaching of core academics in favor of political and sexual indoctrination.” Other oppositional claims include that the law would violate the innocence of children, promote gender confusion, and violate the parents’ rights to consent to have a say in their child’s education. Some go even as far to say inclusion of LGBTQ affirmative education is a form of “sexual brainwashing”.

Despite these claims, experts say children as young as age 2 or 3 start to develop a sense of their gender identity and attraction to genders. Teaching inclusivity for LGBTQ people has not been correlated to the conversion of heterosexual people “turning gay”. Additionally, LGBTQ-identified students report experiencing bullying at a rate twice as much due to their sexual orientation and/or gender expression when compared to their heterosexual peers.

LGBTQ students report being five times as more likely to not attend school because of bullying. Being LGBTQ affirming has been shown to create an accepting, nurturing and open environment where everyone can express who they are, develop compassion for others who are different, and thrive.

I remember vividly the day in my high school history class when we learned the chapter about the Vietnam War and read about the Hmong involvement in the Secret War. It was only a small, single paragraph out of the entire chapter but reading that one passage filled me up with a sense of immense pride and validation. The struggles and victories of my people are seen and heard and will not be forgotten. Not if we are still alive and not unless we allow it to.

It’s time to disrupt the status quo. It’s time to teach our children American history that is fair, accurate, inclusive, and respectful of all its citizens who have built this country on their backs.

The 20th century brought America legal acceptance and equality for races and genders that had suffered from social stigma for centuries. Now, the movement for LGBTQ acceptance and understanding has swept across America. Mental Health America is one organization that hopes, in part, to aid the public through the provision of support and information for and about LGBTQ persons. Their upcoming LGBTQ awareness training will be “a fun, highly interactive and safe environment for adressing… everything you always wanted to know about LGBTQ but were afraid to ask.” (Mental Health America of Northern California)

According to hrc.org, 42% of LGBTQ youth say their community is not accepting of LGBTQ people, and 92% of LGBTQ youth hear negative messages about being LGBTQ. Mental Health America of Northern California provides information vital to understanding the LGBTQ orientation.

“Mental Health America of Northern California (MHANCA) is dedicated to improving the lives of residents in the diverse communities of Northern California,” says Nicole Scanlan, LGBTQ Project Coordinator. “We provide peer services that foster recovery, reduce stigma and discrimination, and improve cultural competency through self-help, education, and culturally relevant research. We do not ask participants to change their belief or value systems, but rather to be open to the possibility that one can provide a safe and affirming environment to LGBTQ youth regardless of belief or value system. ”

The upcoming training will be held at the Sacramento Sheriff’s Office Florin Center Community Room, on May 16th, from 9:30 am to 3 o’clock pm. Those who work with (LGBTQ) youth, including organizations, providers, and community members, are especially encouraged to attend. All questions and concerns will be addressed, along with information intended to help participants understand the importance of myths, misconceptions, and welcoming environments for LGBTQ youth.

“For participants who may feel nervous about attending, please know we do everything we can to create a safe and welcoming environment,” Scanlan adds. “No question, comment or concern will be ignored.”

The training will be held by Poshi Mikalson, MSW, with hopes of reducing stigma toward LGBTQ youth. Light refreshments will be provided.

Anyone interested in attending must register with Ms. Scanlan at nscanlan@mhanca.org. For questions or special accommodations, call (916) 747.0210. Or, to learn more about Mental Health of America, click here.